The stage for adaptogens is set thanks to today’s stress-ridden world. 

The age of adaptogens

Lallemand Health Solutions (Mirabel, Canada) has rebranded an existing formula consisting of 

. Previously known as Probio’Stick, Lallemand’s Cerebiome showcases the product’s effect on the gut-brain axis, referring to it as a “psychobiotic.”

“Cerebiome is a unique and strongly documented psychobiotic formulation developed by the Rosell Institute for Microbiome and Probiotics by Lallemand,” explains Lucie Lingrand, Product Manager at Lallemand Health Solutions, in a press release. “It is the most documented psychobiotic with five clinical studies and several pre-clinical studies allowing to highlight eight mechanisms of action on the brain-gut axis. Cerebiome helps alleviate the physical and psychological symptoms of stress and feelings of anxiety. Such consistency of results is rare in this innovative field.”

Articles

Previously known as Probio’Stick, Lallemand’s Cerebiome showcases the product’s effect on the gut-brain axis, referring to it as a “psychobiotic.”

Lallemand launches Cerebiome to support stress by way of gut-brain axis

Go-Less Men from IFF Health (New York City, NY) has received Non-GMO Project Verification. Go-Less Men utilizes the bioactive components of pumpkin seeds (

.) to support healthy bladder function in men. In a recently published study in the 

 500 mg/day of the pumpkin seed extract for 12 weeks significantly reduced symptoms of benign prostate hyperplasia, with 30% of men reporting improvement of symptoms from moderate/severe to mild.

“This certification reflects IFF’s commitment to develop the highest quality ingredients with full transparency and add value to our customer’s products,” says Moran Werner Saido, product manager for IFF Health, in a press release. “Go-Less Men is supported by science, non-allergenic and has been shown to support the maintenance of a healthy bladder and prostate. It also is available in pharmaceutical grade.”

Leibbrand M et al. “Effects of an oil-free hydroethanolic pumpkin seed extract on symptom frequency and severity in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia: a pilot study in humans.” 

Go-Less Men utilizes the bioactive components of pumpkin seeds (Cucurbita pepo L.) to support healthy bladder function in men. 

Go-Less Men from IFF Health is now Non-GMO Project Verified

 found colostrum products on the market deliver widely different bioactivity based on several quality factors, variations in heat exposure, and how quickly colostrum was collected following the birth of a calf. Bioactivity is important in order to deliver consistent health benefits. 

“This is an important discovery that not all colostrum products are equal,” Raymond Playford, clinical gastroenterologist and lead researcher, said in a press release. “Producers need to ensure that their product is both biologically active and consistent and not rely solely on immunoassays of IgG and growth factors for quality control, especially prior to using the ingredient in clinical trials.”

Colostrum is a milk that is produced in cows, and all mammalian mothers, during the first few days after birth. Although research shows colostrum is rich in immunoglobulins, antimicrobial peptides, and growth factors, there are no studies on product bioactivity. As a result, the study—partially funded by PanTheryx, Inc. (Boulder, CO), a colostrum supplier—examined 20 different commercial colostrum products in vitro bioactivity and in vivo bioassay to assess the ability of colostrum to reduce gastric damage in rats. 

There were six-fold differences in pro-proliferative and migratory activity among the 20 products. Comparison of most- and least-active samples from in vitro studies showed two- to three-fold differences in their ability to reduce gastric injury. Tyrphostin reduced pro-migratory and proliferative activity by 23% and 55%, respectively. TGF-β neutralization reduced migratory activity by 83%, but it did not affect proliferation. Heating the colostrum powder to 50°C did not affect immunoactivity, but it decreased bioactivity by greater than 40%. Milking studies following the birth of calves showed high bioactivity during the first and second milking on day 0, but a 77% reduction by day 3. 

“Colostrum collection on the first day is the gold standard,” stated George Stagnitti, executive vice president of research and development at PanTheryx, in a press release. “As the world’s largest producer of bovine colostrum, we work hard to ensure a consistent, high-quality day-one product that is highly bioactive to maximize the benefits of immune and gut health.” 

Playford RJ et al. “Marked variability in bioactivity between commercially available bovine colostrum for human use; implications for clinical trials” 

A new study published in PLOS ONE found colostrum products on the market deliver widely different bioactivity based on several quality factors.

Bioactivity of bovine colostrum may depend on quality sourcing, says recent study

The National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China approved three patented probiotic strains 

Rosell-71 (R0071)—from Lallemand Health Solutions (Mirabel, Canada)—as safe for use in infant food. The probiotic trio, in combination with fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS), are the active ingredients in Probiokid formula, which has with 11 clinical studies in infants and young children.

“This endorsement is a prodigious regulatory achievement given the limited number of strains that made it to that elitist list of only 12 strains, including these three,” said Solange Henoud, global regulatory affairs director at Lallemand Health Solutions Inc., in a press release “Our team went through a complex and lengthy registration process, but the strong evidence we had on hand for these strains, made us confident we would reach this coveted final stage.”

The National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China approved three patented probiotic strains from Lallemand Health Solutions as safe for use in infant food.

Three probiotic strains in Probiokid deemed safe for use in infant formula in China

Chamomile was used as traditional medicine in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome.

Fun Fact! Chamomile was used as traditional medicine in ancient Egypt, Greece, and Rome.

Chamomile history

“Adapt, or die.” It’s harsh advice, but it’s been an underlying rule of evolution ever since the process got rolling—which means pretty-much forever.

And as we find ourselves half a year into a disorienting new reality living with the COVID-19 pandemic, we’re witnessing our capacity to adapt being tested in ways we never imagined—and generating profound mental and physical stress as a result.

Which is why we may also be witnessing the dawn of the age of adaptogens—plant-based ingredients that purportedly help our bodies adapt to the stresses of trying times, including everyday life.

And if you’re still fuzzy on adaptogens, you’re not alone. As Stephanie Mattucci, associate director, food science, Mintel (Chicago), notes, “Most U.S. consumers aren’t yet familiar with adaptogens, with only 4% currently consuming functional foods and drinks that contain them.”

But those numbers may be ripe for a shift. “Consumers are seeking ways to relax and relieve stress and anxiety across their lives,” Mattucci says. If brands can deliver science-backed ingredients in palatable packages, the adaptogen era may be just the change of pace we need.

Writing in a May 2019 opinion piece for Euromonitor International titled “Adaptogens and Functional Relaxation Beverages,” Howard Telford, the market-research firm’s head of soft drinks, notes that most ingredients currently marketed as adaptogens trace their roots back to Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine—“although the term 

 itself originated in the twentieth century,” he notes.

And while neither industry, academia, nor the health-and-wellness community has established an agreed-upon formal definition, Telford, like many others, describes adaptogens as “naturally occurring, nontoxic, plant-based ingredients that help promote stress reduction and physiological balance.”

How they do so awaits definitive elucidation—as do further details about effective dosing, measurable effects, and long-term benefits. But for now, says Shanais Pelka, research and development manager for superfoods company Organifi (San Diego, CA), we can think of adaptogens “as sort of like a thermostat.”

Consider: When your living-room thermostat senses that the temperature’s too cold, it kicks on the heat to bring the temperature up; when it senses things getting too hot, it reverses course and cools the room back down. “The beautiful thing about an adaptogen,” Pelka explains, “is that, like a thermostat, it can actually decrease anxiety and calm you even while increasing energy.”

The secret, apparently, lies in the adrenals. “Adaptogens support our adrenal glands behind the scenes to ensure a balanced, healthy, functioning body,” Pelka says. These endocrine organs participate in everything from regulating the sleep/wake cycle and suppressing inflammation to keeping blood sugar in check and secreting neurotransmitter hormones like epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine.

“These hormones,” Pelka goes on, “generate the primitive stress response that helps keep us alive in moments of trauma or danger.” Yet when our adrenal glands fatigue—whether from poor diet; physical, emotional, or environmental stress; or even the occasional all-nighter—“we may not be able to make the required hormones and neurotransmitters our bodies need.”

These downstream hormonal effects of continual stress can disturb sleep, memory, emotions—even immunity. And that, says Pelka, is where adaptogens provide support. “The effects may be subtle at first,” she notes, “but just wait a couple weeks and you notice real changes in your body.”

Many consumers would likely welcome those changes now. A 2017 Euromonitor International online survey found 70% of respondents claiming that capping daily stress levels was an “important health objective.” And that was back in 2017.

According to Veronica Eckl, associate data product manager, SPINS (Chicago), that bodes well for adaptogenic ingredients. “High-stress lifestyles and environments, as well as a move toward greater self-care, are definitely driving interest in adaptogens,” she says.

By nourishing an overstressed endocrine system, Eckl contends, adaptogens “nourish the entire body rather than treat a singular symptom.” And with awareness of the relationship between endocrine function and stress growing, she believes, the way forward for adaptogens is up.


“In the current wave of natural-product innovation, ginseng—both Asian and American varieties—remains prevalent and has been a popular ingredient globally,” Euromonitor’s Howard Telford notes. In fact, he goes so far as to crown ginseng “the most popular adaptogen overall.”


Calling ashwagandha a “prized herb in Ayurveda,” SPINS’ Veronica Eckl notes that ashwagandha is valued for its apparent role in supporting youth, fertility, and vitality, as well as immunity. “Clinical studies have also suggested that it could play a part in calming the nervous system.”


Tulsi, or holy basil, is another adaptogenic herb in the Ayurvedic pharmacopeia. “Holy basil has traditionally been used for bronchial and cardiovascular support, and animal studies in the last decade or so have shown it as a promising anti-stress agent, containing possible cortisol-reducing compounds,” Eckl says.


Maca, an indigenous Andean botanical, has claimed a measure of fame as a superfood, but Eckl notes that its history supporting hormonal health and energy levels dates back well before its current renown. “This herb is also a powerhouse of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients,” she says. “It can easily be included in drink mixes or smoothies.”


And mushrooms—from maitake and shiitake to chaga, reishi, and beyond—are attracting attention as adaptogens. Practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine have administered both the fruiting bodies and mycelia of reishi mushrooms for more than two millennia thanks to their “impressive list of medicinal qualities,” Eckl says. She says reishi is even known as “the mushroom of immortality.”

Tonics made with reishi revitalize energy, Eckl notes, while reishi’s polysaccharides and beta-glucans support immune health. “There’s even been promising preliminary research showing that reishi can help promote sleep and decrease stress,” she says.

Mintel’s Mattucci agrees, adding that younger consumers could give the category a concerted boost. “While stress is a universal phenomenon, today’s youth are more open about acknowledging stress and anxiety than previous generations were,” she notes. “Gen Z—born between 1995 and 2007—is now and will continue to be a key audience for formulations that help relieve stress and anxiety.”

Yet adaptogens have something for everyone. Because stress exacerbates the effects of aging, for example, “Adaptogens are making more appearances in skincare and beauty products like serums, moisturizers, and masks as an extra boost, as well as to fight inflammation,” SPINS’ Eckl points out. She believes the ingredients “hit the same note as the self-care revolution.”

And given that stressors like COVID-19, social unrest, and a looming economic downturn show no signs of relenting, “Demand for stress relief will only increase in 2020,” Mattucci predicts. “Adaptogens that offer a dual benefit of stress reduction and immune support have the potential to thrive in a post-COVID world,” she adds, “especially as stress takes a toll on the immune system, leaving us more susceptible to illness.”

Some product developers are already signing on. “While still niche in foods, drinks, and supplements,” Mattucci says, “adaptogens like holy basil, ashwagandha, maca, and several types of ginseng have the potential to grow, and are already showing up in functional foods and drinks designed for stress relief.”

But obstacles still block adaptogens’ route to the mainstream.

Awareness of and familiarity with the ingredients “is still very low in most markets,” says Joana Maricato, market research manager, New Nutrition Business (London). Consumers in the know tend to be early adopters and “highly health-oriented shoppers who are always looking for the latest developments in health and wellness and are willing to pay a premium for them,” she says.

A dearth of human clinical trials will pose another hurdle. As Eckl says, “While adaptogens have been used in traditional medicines for thousands of years, the exact mechanism of many of these plants is unknown, and most studies are based on animal trials, as in the case of holy basil and other adaptogens.”

And because consumers need time and consistent use to see results, the sense that the ingredients aren’t working may also discourage repeat purchase. “It can be difficult to feel a ‘destressing’ effect, and this can demotivate consumers,” Maricato says.

Eckl agrees. “Even coffees, tea mixes, and other drink preparations containing adaptogens may not create an immediate boost of energy or vitality and are best used over time,” she notes.

Another potential problem: Many adaptogens don’t taste good. But, says Eckl, “Some do have a unique flavor profile that manufacturers can capitalize on.” Bitterness, for instance, may not stand out in a tea or dark-chocolate drink.

In fact, she continues, “Tea, matcha, and golden milk mixes have been formulated with adaptogenic herbs,” while protein supplements and electrolyte and functional beverages also make good candidates for what she calls “an added boost of sustainable adaptogenic energy.”

Mattucci believes that adaptogens will gain the most traction when delivered in products “that consumers already choose to help them relax and reduce stress, such as snacks and beverages.” But she also sees a home for them in sports nutrition, “as many consumers who exercise are doing so to relieve stress.”

An intriguing angle for future formulation might be to capitalize on the connection that adaptogens and brain-boosting nootropics have with sports nutrition and performance, Maricato suggests. “Many ingredients, like caffeine and taurine, are already associated with heightening mental and physical performance,” she notes, “while those connected to the relaxation and destressing effects of adaptogens are also needed for optimal performance.”

And as far as ingredient choice goes, Eckl points out that while single herbs “work well for targeted support, herbal blends can be as potent, if not more so, than the individual herbs they contain.” For example, reishi plus holy basil help support sleep, she says, while cacao “could complement the cognitive properties of the other herbs” in an adaptogenic product.

Euromonitor’s Telford advises keeping adaptogens “whole.” “Consumers demonstrate a strong preference for simple, ‘whole-food’ solutions instead of artificial, highly processed, or unfamiliar ingredients,” he says. “The rise of adaptogens in foods and beverages is part of a much broader push toward whole foods, plants, and beverages as supplement solutions, away from pills and less palatable capsules.”

On June 28, 2020, 60 Minutes released a segment on probiotics, 

“Do Probiotics Actually Do Anything?”

 Jon LaPook, MD opened the segment with a discussion about the gut microbiome with Jeff Gordon, MD at Washington University in St. Louis, who is said to be the father of the microbiome. Gordon discussed what the microbiome is, and what’s it made of. As new research discoveries continue to reveal the microbiome’s larger role in overall health, Gordon said doctors are already treating illness by manipulating gut bacteria.

Unfortunately, probiotics, which are designed to support the gut microbiome, subsequently went under questioning— “But do probiotics actually do anything?” LoPook asked. Several medical experts weighed in on the science behind probiotics and their ability to impact health.

Patricia Hibberd, MD, PhD, an infectious disease specialist and a professor of medicine at Boston University, said there isn’t enough high-quality research to recommend off-the-shelf probiotics for the medical problems they tout to support. Further, two professors from Israel's Weizmann Institute of Science, said, “We found that the probiotics actually delayed the restoration of the bacteria of those individuals to what they had before as compared to individuals who took antibiotics and then did nothing.”

In response to the segment on probiotics, the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN; Washington, DC), the leading trade association for the dietary supplement and functional food industry, issued the following statement from Andrea Wong, PhD, senior vice president, scientific & regulatory affairs, CRN:

“The vigorous body of scientific research exploring the benefits of probiotics is providing increased understanding of the role probiotics play, not only for digestive health, but for immune function, brain health, and even bone health. Probiotic use is supported both by a long history of safe use and rigorous clinical trials, and CRN underscores those beneficial effects and the safety of these products. But unfortunately, the recent news segment highlights the developing nature of the science and the lack of scientific certainty with regard to their beneficial health effects, pitting one scientist’s view against another’s and leaving viewers confused about the category.

“The segment does not feature any new research and only highlights previously published scientific studies, each with their own limitations. For example, one of the featured studies reviewed the effects of a specific combination of probiotic strains on how they modify the microbiome of the host, but did not measure important clinical endpoints, like the prevention of diarrhea after taking antibiotics.

“Further, the segment questions the safety of probiotics and criticizes the regulation of these products. The safety of probiotics is well-established through their long history of use and safety studies. Moreover, probiotic products marketed as dietary supplements are subject to comprehensive dietary supplement regulations that include current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMPs), testing procedures, labeling and storage requirements, and other practices enforced by regulatory agencies at both the federal and state levels. Many of the clinical endpoints questioned in the news segment involve treatment of serious diseases and medical conditions that are far beyond the purview of dietary supplements without refuting their beneficial effects for maintaining a healthy gut.

“Probiotics have been shown to support good health and continue to be a growing category with consumers. Their repeated purchases and positive consumer outcomes undercut the reporter’s supposition that benefits can be attributed to a placebo effect. This segment and its featured research reinforce that probiotics work through a variety of mechanisms beyond changing the composition of the microbiome, and we encourage more research into the benefits and safety of this category. CRN reminds consumers to consult their healthcare providers if they have questions about the probiotic supplements they are taking or thinking about taking in the future.”

The Council for Responsbile Nutrition has issued a response to 60 Minutes segment on probiotics. 

CRN responds to 60 Minutes’ segment on probiotics

Alibaba.com is kicking off the launch of 

, with its first live event, held July 7 – 10, 2020, designed to showcase American businesses: 

Supplements & Nutrition Online Trade Show

. The event, in partnership with USA CBD Expo and the United Natural Products Alliance (UNPA), will host daily sessions that facilitate connections between business buyers and U.S.-based manufacturers, wholesalers, raw ingredient suppliers, and brands in the supplements, nutrition, and CBD category that offer finished and customizable products.

. Attendees will have the opportunity to discover new products, network with experts, sellers, and more, and gain industry insights and market trends from expert speakers.

This virtual trade show is just one of many upcoming online events. Online Trade Shows USA — a resource for B2B sellers to meet new customers and for business buyers to discover new products — is hosting a series of category-specific, livestreaming experiences designed so buyers and sellers can meet and transact in real-time. Future shows will be hosted in the food and beverage, agriculture, and beauty and personal care categories.

Alibaba.com is kicking off the launch of Online Trade Shows USA, with its first live event, held July 7 – 10, 2020, designed to showcase American businesses: Supplements & Nutrition Online Trade Show.

Alibaba hosts Supplements & Nutrition Online Trade Show live event

Expanding its Koji minerals line, Naturex (Avignon, France), launched Ultimine Zinc for supplements, foods, and beverages. The ingredient, developed with Cura Global Health, is produced using a fermentation process during which koji culture biomass incorporates food-grade zinc. The end product is a dried biomass that naturally encapsulates the zinc, delivering an 11-mg dose in a 200-mg serving. It is available in powder and granule form and is non-GMO, Kosher, Halal, and vegan. Ultimine zinc obtained GRAS (generally recognized as safe) status for use in functional beverages, fruit juice, breakfast cereals and bars, meat substitutes, rice and pasta.

“Ultimine Zinc is the world’s first fermented wholefood zinc supplement,” said Timothée Olagne, global category director, nutritional ingredients, in a press release. “It delivers high levels of zinc in a small dose and can be used in a range of food and nutrition applications. With broadly recognized regulatory acceptance, it offers an exciting new source of zinc, an important nutrient that many people do not get enough of.”

Expanding its Koji minerals line, Naturex (Avignon, France), launched Ultimine Zinc for supplements, foods, and beverages.

Naturex launches whole food fermented zinc for immune support

Aurea Biolabs (Eatontown, NJ) launch of Ginactiv, a full-spectrum 100% ginger ingredient that uses the company’s PNS (Polar – Non-Polar Sandwiching) technology. The ingredient features three standardized actives, a high level of gingerols and shogaols, and volatile oil.

“Ginger has widely documented benefits in a number of categories including digestive, immune, and cardiovascular health,” said Sreeraj Gopi, PhD, Aurea’s chief science officer, in a press release. “Put into the PNS system, Aurea has been able to create a truly innovative low dose offering while maintaining the goodness of the entire ginger root.”

PNS increases the bio-efficacy and bioavailability of ingredients without using excipients. So, in the case of Ginactiv, gingerols are sandwiched between polar (fiber and protein from ginger) and non-polar (ginger essential oil) components to recreate a natural ginger matrix.

Aurea Biolabs launched Ginactiv, a full-spectrum 100% ginger ingredient that uses the company’s PNS (Polar – Non-Polar Sandwiching) technology. 

Featured Content

The age of adaptogens

Lallemand launches Cerebiome to support stress by way of gut-brain axis

Go-Less Men from IFF Health is now Non-GMO Project Verified

Bioactivity of bovine colostrum may depend on quality sourcing, says recent study

Three probiotic strains in Probiokid deemed safe for use in infant formula in China

Chamomile history

The age of adaptogens

CRN responds to 60 Minutes’ segment on probiotics

Alibaba hosts Supplements & Nutrition Online Trade Show live event

Naturex launches whole food fermented zinc for immune support

Aurea Biolabs introduces new ginger ingredient for digestion, heart health